From Heracles to Alexander the Great The temporary exhibition ‘From Heracles to Alexander The Great’ showcased over five hundred objects found in the royal burial tombs in the ancient capital of Macedon, in ongoing excavations since the 1970s. These artefacts describe the history of the royal court and the stories of the kings and queens who governed Macedon, from the descendants of Heracles to the ruling dynasty of Alexander the Great. London Atelier wished to recreate the sense of wonder felt by discoverers stepping into a new tomb or a lost city. The exhibition was choreographed to provide a dramatic impact upon entry into each gallery and to convey the main theme and narrative of each space at first glance. Larger objects, assemblies of objects or large graphical reproductions were positioned at key views within each gallery to create a strong visual impact. The visitor was then left to investigate the rest of each gallery in more detail and to continue their personal discovery. The staging of the exhibition inevitably uses storytelling to shape the physicality of the space, informing the choice of materials, colours and lighting. In turn, this helps to shape and structure the story itself. Where possible, large sculptures and objects such as architectural fragments of the palace have been placed on open display to encourage more direct interaction with the visitor. The displays themselves integrate narrative and descriptive texts through the use of screen printing on the walls and set work. Against a white backdrop, key objects and areas are highlighted using a ‘royal purple’. This attracts the attention of the visitor while providing an additional layer to the story.